Esti Weisman’s Coffee Capsule Workshops in the Gaza Envelope
In the heart of Israel’s Gaza Envelope – a region still grappling with the trauma of the October 7 attacks – art has become an unexpected source of healing and resilience. At the center of this creative revival is Esti Weisman, a talented artist who has devoted herself to helping others rebuild through creativity and connection.
Esti made a remarkable decision: she moved lock, stock, and barrel from her home in Kibbutz Kabri in the north of Israel to Nahal Oz, one of the communities most deeply affected by October 7th. Now living in the south, Esti is a member of the Eshkol volunteer group of Shnat Sherut 50 Plus, dedicating herself full-time to supporting communities in recovery.
Esti was first introduced to creating with coffee capsules about seven years ago during a workshop for women at Kibbutz Kabri. She began by making necklaces as gifts for birthdays, family visits abroad, and for herself – sharing her creations whenever someone admired them. Although she had never formally run workshops before, her fellow volunteers in Eshkol encouraged her to start. In each session, there is a full cycle of reuse: the emptied coffee grounds are used in gardens, while the capsules are transformed into jewelry, mobiles, magnets, and more. Her friends collect capsules to support her growing collection, fueling the creativity that continues to inspire and heal.
Esti is now known for her innovative workshops that turn used coffee capsules into vibrant works of art. But these sessions are far more than just craft activities – they are carefully designed to serve as a therapeutic outlet, offering participants a creative way to process emotions, find moments of peace, and reconnect with others.
Her workshops have reached a wide range of participants: local residents, children, seniors, and – most recently – foreign workers, whose presence is vital to the region’s recovery.
The Gaza Envelope relies heavily on foreign labor, particularly in agriculture. On October 7th, many foreign workers were directly caught up in the violence, with at least 31 Thai nationals kidnapped during the assault. In the immediate aftermath, many foreign workers understandably fled the area. Yet over time, many have returned, drawn back by the deep bonds they built with local communities and a profound love for the land they helped cultivate.
In a moving session held recently, Esti ran a coffee capsule art workshop specifically for foreign workers living in the area. Through the simple yet powerful act of creating art from recycled materials, participants found not only a creative outlet but a sense of normalcy, belonging, and hope.
Esti’s workshops remind us that healing often begins in small, colorful moments – in the shared creation of something beautiful, in the laughter that bubbles up unexpectedly, in the quiet strength that grows when people sit together around a table and make something new from what was once discarded.
Her commitment, creativity, and compassion embody the spirit of Shnat Sherut 50 Plus and the wider effort to rebuild the Gaza Envelope communities – not just with bricks and mortar, but with heart and soul.
